MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2008

DARK HORSE COMICS FOR NOVEMBER

GEORGE LUCAS TALKS STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

Star Wars creator George Lucas said that Star Wars: The Clone Wars -- the animated movie that opens in theaters on Friday and then spins into a television series on Cartoon Network beginning on Oct. 3 -- allows viewers "to go more places" in the Star Wars universe.

At a recent press conference, Lucas said the mythological arc of the live-action saga won't continue in new Star Wars offshoots.

"That was a story," he said. "It has a beginning, middle and end. It's the story of one man's struggle against eveil and the redemption of his son.

"This is more episodic. It's more like Indiana Jones, actually. You have themes and things that still throught go through it, but it's now what it's based on. This is bigger."

Lucas said that Clone Wars allows stories about the clones, what Jabba the Hut's family is about and other topics that don't have anything to do with the journey of Annakin Skywalker, or as, Lucas put it, "this mythological uber-story of the psychological underpinnings of why somebody turns out to be a bad person."

Lucas said he skipped over the Clone Wars in the live-action movies because they didn't impact Anakin's story, "it was a huge canvas to be mined."

"I got to fill in a blank and go around in a universe that is not restricted and therefore not quite as dark," Lucas said. "And we can have a lot more fun with it."

Lucas said when he saw the first shots of the series come back, he was so encouraged by how they looked on the big screen, he decided he wanted to do a feature that introduces the new character, Ashoka Tano, a teenaged Togruta girl assigned by Yoda to serve under Anakin Skywalker as his Padawan apprentice.

"I wanted to develop a character that would help Anakin settle down," Lucas said. "Because, at the end of Episode II, he was kind of a wild child and he and Obi-Wan don't get along. So, the idea was to see how they become friends, how they became partners and how they become a team."

Lucas said that forcing Anakin to become a teacher helps him become more responsible.

Look for more on Clone Wars on Tuesday here in The Continuum.

DINI CARTOONS AT TOP COW PRODUCTIONS

Paul Dini's line of humor comics from Top Cow Productions, Dini Cartoons, will kick off in November with Jingle Belle: Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein.

The one-shot will be written by Dini, with art by Stephanie Gladden and covers by Gladden and Greg Horn.

In the story, Jingle finds Frankenstein's monster in the Arctic wastes and rehabilitates him to fit in the with elves at Santa's workshop. An ultra-PC city declares Santa Claus taboo and awakens Frankenstein's monstrous side.

The new line will feature what Dini called a "stable of wacky characters."

"They are more cartoony-style books," Dini said. "This won't be a kids line. It will be books that have a bit more of a humorous bent. Dini Cartoons is sort of taking characters that are a little looser, a little funnier, and telling interesting stories about them.

"I've talked to J. Bone about bringing over the Mutant, Texas stories, and I've also talked to the guys about doing a humor anthology taking in some of those characters."

Dini said he hopes to work with some of his animation collaborators and that the books will serve as a launching pad to new characters and concepts.

Dini's Madame Mirage will also return next year from Top Cow. "It picks up the story and continues that," he said.

Dini also said he plans on doing super-hero work in the "Batman animated vein."

RED 5 COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For previews of Marvel Comics titles arriving in stores on August 13, CLICK HERE.

For previews of Boom! Studios titles arriving in stores on August 13, CLICK HERE.

For previews of Archie Comics titles arriving in stores on August 13, CLICK HERE.

VIRGIN COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For a cover and five-page preview of Virgin Comics' Blade of the Warrior: Kshatriya #1, arriving in stores on August 13, CLICK HERE.

NEXT AVENGERS: HEROES OF TOMORROW

Marvel Studios' Craig Kyle said that Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, the fifth movie in the Lionsgate/Marvel animated series, will appeal to a younger audience than the previous four films.

The film, due in stores on Sept. 2, features the sons of Captain America/Black Widow, Black Panther and Giant Man/Wasp and the daughter of Torunn dealing with the threat of Ultron.

"We wondering if there is a way to broaden the audiences a little more without losing some of the edge that we can't do on Saturday morning fare," Kyle said during a recent roundtable interview at Comic-Con International, where the film was screened

"So we said, can we keep the fans happy with a classic character like Tony Stark or Ultron or Hulk and then give (something to) the kids that kind of snuck in and sat on the couch next to their parents or older siblings to watch the first four movies and make everybody happy?

"It's always a challenge because fans want this and kids usually need this. And I think in this one we kind of found this nice Goonies blend of fun, action family fare without losing what the fans need feel like it's a Marvel adventure or a Marvel project.

"So it's a mix of new and old."

In exploring the new ground, Kyle said it was important to honor the tradition of the characters.

"The fans just need to know you're being respectful," Kyle said. "They're not going to agree with every choice you make; there's just no way for them to feel that way because they wouldn't necessarily make those kind of decisions. But if they feel like they're taking the care that's needed when you make these choices, they respect that."

Look for more interviews on Next Avengers soon here in The Continuum.

OCTOBER SOLICITATIONS ROUNDUP

For previously posted October solicitations, click on the publishers' names below:

BRIEFLY

* The Tuesday, August 26 episode of Smallville on The CW will be a repeat of "Justice" from Season 6.

The episodes features Justin Hartley as Green Arrow, Kyle Gallner as Impulse, Alan Ritchson as Aquaman and Lee Thompson Young as Cyborg.

The Thursday, August 28 episode will be a repeat of "Apocalypse."

* Kraven the Hunter will become a member of the Sinister Six after his first appearance in Season 2 of The Spectacular Spider-Man animated series.

* Marvel Comics has announced a second printing for the sold-out Hulk #5, marking the fifth consecutive sell-out/second printing for the title.

The second printing of Hulk #5 will have a cover featuring Ed McGuinness' interior art and will be in stores on Sept. 10.

* Marvel has released the cover image -- with trade dress -- for Secret Invasion #5, due in stores on Wednesday. Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.

* Encore is airing a 4-day marathon of science-fiction movies over the Labor Day weekend. Among the films are Tank Girl on Friday, August 29 at 9:20 a.m. and Judge Dredd on Friday, August 29 at 6:15 p.m.

* DC Comics has announced that Action Comics #866, a "Sightings" issue featuring the first chapter of the "Brainiac" storyline by writer Geoff Johns and artists Gary Frank and Jon Sibal, is going back to press for a second printing.

The second printing will feature a recolored version of the cover and will be in stores on Sept. 3.

COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES

In case you missed The Continuum's coverage over the past month, here are some links. Click on the date to get the day's full report.

* Wednesday, July 23: Cartoon Network develops three comics properties, Brave: The Brave and the Bold, The Middleman, Boom! Studios to publish Pixar comics, Bongo Comics for October and Oni Press for October.